Linda Mfuchi Were has spent her entire career at one company, but she has never stood still. As L'Oréal East Africa's first black woman CFO, she is handling the shift from controller to strategic leader one lesson at a time.

Large projects often look great on paper but fail in the real world, leaving companies with massive, unrecoverable bills. ALN Kenya Group chief operations and financial officer Lameck Muriithi, recently named to the CFO 50 class of 2026, explains why he insists on securing customer commitments before spending company money.

She steps up from her role as head of financial decision support at the bank.

The seasoned manufacturing finance leader brings over 20 years of international experience across India, the UAE and Bangladesh.

Cooperative Bank finance and strategy director Caroline Karimi, who has over two decades of financial leadership across the banking, telecoms, FMCG and automotive industries, is among the second cohort of nominees for the annual 'Oscars of Finance'.

Irene steps up from her role as CFO, bringing 25 years of experience in financial management across telecoms, energy and financial services.

Rwanda's largest telecommunications company brings its senior finance team into the community as MTN Rwanda signs up as a corporate member.

A gruelling marathon experience taught Madison Group CFO Dr Daniel Murage the critical importance of pacing. The civil engineer turned 'value architect' now applies these lessons in endurance to his financial leadership, drawing on his history of steering massive digital growth to drive progress one step at a time.

Yusuf steps up following the resignation of Abdi Mohamed, who led the bank for three years.

Bob Okodi's nomination recognises his track record of financial leadership across Uganda's non-profit sector.

A formative conversation with his father set Jambojet cfo Ira Kaviti on a path that changed how he thinks about purpose and leadership. He now applies the lessons he learned about trust during a stint in Bermuda to his work at the airline, where he is focused on keeping costs tight and making clear, practical decisions.

The payment operations entrepreneur speaks about the glass ceiling she refused to stay under and why Africa needs imaginative solutions built by Africans.

Geoffrey will lead the firm’s business growth strategy and financial operations across East Africa.

Bernard, who joins the second cohort of nominees competing in the annual ‘Oscars of Finance’, has led the bank's financial performance agenda since his appointment as CFO in 2024. 

Hariss International, one of Uganda's leading food and beverage manufacturers, brings a cross-functional leadership team into CFO East Africa as the company signs up as a corporate member.

At the CFO East Africa Leadership Summit in Dar es Salaam, finance leaders opened up about the moments that tested them and what they learned outside of the classroom.

Anita's nomination recognises her track record of financial leadership across Rwanda's private sector.

ICEA Lion Group is the latest financial services giant to join CFO East Africa, bringing its senior finance team into the community.

Dr Neema Kiure, assurance partner at EY and former Diamond Trust Bank Tanzania finance director , knows a CFO’s true influence is often revealed during moments of stress. As a judge for the 2026 CFO Awards, she is on the lookout for finance leaders who do bring clarity and disciplined recommendations to the board when tradeoffs get hard.

Vodacom Tanzania finance director Hilda Bujiku made history as the telco’s first native Tanzanian and woman to hold the position. But behind the public triumphs is a hard-won battle with self-doubt. With renewed confidence and a track record of transformation, she is ready for what comes next.